Ash disposal system



Sept. 10; 1935. s; BENNETT 2,013,680

ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed July 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 10, 1935. J. s. BENNETT 2,013,680

ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed July 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lw nar, 1

5 ks (4%)"?! .s

Sept. 10,1935. J. 5-. BENNETT ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1931 Sept. 10, 1935. 5 BENNETT 2,013,680

I ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed July 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 10, 1935 ASH DISPOSAL SYSTEM Joseph S. Bennett, Merion,

Pa., assignor to Application July 18, 1931, Serial No. 551,751

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ash disposal means for furnaces, and has an application of particular importance to furnaces employing mechanical stokers.

One object of my invention is to provide a generally improved and highly efficient system of hydraulic ash removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus and mechanism for effecting a predeterminedly controlled passage of ashes to hydraulic or similar sluices.

A further object of the invention is to provide for use primarily with stoker fed furnaces of the underfeed type an ash disposal system com-- prising a novel sub-hopper adapted for reception of the ash and fuel residue discharged from the stoker and adapted also for association with a hydraulic sluice or other suitable ash removal means, said sub-hopper including means for feeding the ash content at predetermined rates to the sluice and comprising also means for effectively sealing the bottom of the hopper to prevent passage of gas, dust or water between the hopper and sluice.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ash disposal system of the general character set forth having provision for effecting the thorough crushing of the larger particles of clinker and ash whereby the residue is passed to the sluiceways in a relatively finely divided condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a system of the stated character a sub-hopper having novel and highly desirable structural characteristics as hereinafter described in detail.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a system of the general character set forth, a sub-hopper including supplemental crushing and feeding means, together with means for synchronizing the operation of the said supplemental means with the operation of the main ash crusher means of the mechanical stoker.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sub-hopper of the character set forth having novel and improved means for discharging the ashes therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ash disposal system of the general character set forth in which provision is made for effectively closing the entire bottom portion of the apparatus to exclude passage of air into the combustion chamber of the furnace through the ash pit or to prevent the leakage of air, gas,

.dust or water from the hopper.

The invention further resides in certain novel structural features and details of mechanism hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial sectional view illustrating the principal elements of an ash disposal system made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational and partial sectional view of the sub-hopper;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the opposite end of the sub-hopper divorced from the associated structure;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the subhopper and related parts.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates the lower or overfeed section of a multiple retort underfeed stoker, this overfeed portion comprising an extension grate 2 and a lower grate 3, which latter constitutes the forward wall of the normal furnace ash pit. In the present instance the ash pit is shown as provided with a pair of crusher rolls 4 which extend longitudinally of the ash pit between forward and rear crusher plates 5 and 6, these rolls being supported in the present instance on transverse beams l extending across the bottom of the ash pit. These rolls are adapted for intermittent operation through the medium of suitable pawl and ratchet mechanisms designated respectively 8 and 9 which are jointly connected through rods It with a piston operating in a cylinder II.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a sub-ash pit or hopper l2 which directly underlies the bottom of the main ash pit in position toreceive the ash residue discharged from the latter by operation of the crusher rolls i; and in association with the sub-hopper I2, I provide in a preferred embodiment a suitable ash sluice l3 into which the ash may be discharged from the hopper l2, as hereinafter more fully described, for conveyance to a suitable sump or remote tank, from which final disposition of the ashes may be made.

In Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, I have illustrated the construction of the sub-hopper I2. As therein illustrated the hopper comprises a vertical longitudinal side wall l6 and vertical end walls ll and I8. The other side wall consists of a lower vertical section l9 and an upwardly and outwardly inclined upper section 2 I, inclination of the upper portion of this side wall providing the hopper with a relatively wide receiving mouth at the top corresponding in dimensions substantially with the bottom of the furnace ash pit which it underlies, as previously described, together with a lower or discharge portion which is relatively narrow for a purpose hereinafter disclosed.

Both side and end walls of the hopper preferably are composed of a series of flat plates suitably shaped and dimensioned to form the side walls.

The hopper in effect is fabricated in two main sections which may be separated one from the other. One of these sections comprising the lowermost series of plates with their securing means constitute the lower vertical walled portion of the hopper; while the other section comprises the remaining portions of the end walls, the inclined side wall section 2! and the corresponding part of the opposite side wall. The bars 28 at the sides of the hopper as well as the corner bars 30, which are in the form of angle bars embracing the corners of the hopper, are formed in two sec tions respectively embracing the upper and lower separable sections of the tank, the adjacent ends of the said bar sections being connected by tie plates 33 and 34, which in the present instance are riveted to the upper ends of the lower sections of the bar and are secured by bolts 35 to the lower ends of the upper bar sections. At the ends of the hopper integral angle bars 36 unite the adjacent edges of the plates of both the upper and lower hopper sections, see Fig. 3, these bars being entirely removable from the plates. By removing the bars 36 and releasing the bolts 35, the upper and lower sections of the hopper previously described may be separated from each other, while individually remaining intact. This arrangement affords a substantial economy in installation, since the entire hopper may be assembled in the two main sections, which may then be readily joined together.

As shown in Figs. 3 and. 4, the upper edges of the plates composing the walls of the upper hopper section are united through the medium of angle bars 39 which are secured by bolts to the outwardly extending flanges ll at the upper edges of the top series of wall plates, and these bars 39 which bound the upper edge of the hopper are also secured by suitable angles 42 and 43 to the upper ends of the bars 28, 3t, 36, and 31. The ends of the bars 39 are also united by similar means indicated at 44, see Fig. 3.

The bottoms of the lower sections of the bars 28 are secured through the medium of suitable angles 45, corresponding to the angles 42 above mentioned, to angle bars 46 which extend along ;the lower side edges of the hopper, and the ends of these bars 45 are secured by angle cleats 41 to the ends of angle bars 48 which extend along the lower end edges of the hopper. The bars 48 are also secured through suitable cleats 49 to \the corner bars 38 and to the upright end bars 36. In the present instance, the cleats 45 are riveted to the bars 46, while the cleats 41 and 49 are similarly secured to the end bars 48, the cleats being secured to the upright bars by means of bolts which provide a detachable connection.

Secured by bolts Si to the inner faces and adjacent the upper edges of the side plates of the lower hopper section are two series of plates 52 which extend inwardly and downwardly from -the said plates to form a partial floor for the hopper, said plates having at their side edges flanges 53 which are secured together by means of bolts 54. These floor plates 52 terminate short of the mid section of the lower portion of the hopper to provide a central longitudinal opening through which the contents of the hopper may be discharged. Also secured to the side plates of the lower hopper section below and in spaced relation to the under sides of the floor plates 53 are two series of brackets 55, the 5 upper edges of which incline downwardly and inwardly of the hopper at substantially the angle of the floor plates, these brackets constituting guides and supports for gates 56 and 51 which extend the full length of the hopper and which in 10 the position shown in Fig. 4 effectively close the opening between the floor plates 53 to thereby close the bottom of the hopper.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower edge of the gate 56 is arranged to abut the upper lower sur- 5 face of the gate 5i so that when the gates are closed as shown a substantially tight joint is provided. In the present instance, the gates 56 and 5? are made up of a series of sections having depending flanges 58, the flanges of adjoining 20 sections being secured together by means of bolts 59. The lower edges of the said flanges 58 ride upon the inclined edges of the brackets 55.

It will be noted that the lower edges of each of the floor members 53 has in its under side a longi- 25 tudinal slot 6! for reception of a sealing strip 62 which bears upon the upper surfaces of the respective gates 56 and 57 to provide a seal between these elements.

The brackets 55 have formed thereon journals 30 for a pair of longitudinal shafts 63 which respectively underlie the gates 55 and 5?. Each of these shafts carries a series of sheaves 64, the sheaves preferably being located adjacent the sides of the said brackets. To each of the 35 sheaves is connected a chain 65, the outer end of which is connected by suitable means to a depending flange on the under side of the associated gate. In the present instance, I have shown each shaft provided with two sets of the sheaves S4. 401

The chains 65 of two of the sheaves of each set are attached as shown in Fig. 4 to a staple secured in a flange 66 adjacent the lower end of the associated gate, while the chains of the other two sheaves of each set are connected by a suit- 45 bosses in the lower end plates of the hopper, and 55 at one end the shafts project beyond said plates for reception of ratchets 68 which with pawls 69 act to retain the gates in the elevated or retracted positions. The projecting ends of the shafts are formed for reception of a suitable 6O ratchet or other lever whereby the said shafts may be rotated to elevate or lower the gates as required. Suitable means is provided for lubricating the journals of the shafts 63 from the exterior of the hopper, this means in the present 65 instance comprising tubes H which communicate with the journals and pass through the side wall of the hopper, said tubes carrying at their outer ends nipples 12 whereby lubricant may be forced under pressure through the tubes to the 70 bearings.

Secured in part to the end plates of the lower hopper section and in part to the lower end plates of the upper section at both ends of the hopper are a pair of journal plates 13 which receive the ends of a pair of shafts 14 extending longitudinally of the hopper in positions overlying the floor plates 52. Extending transversely of the hopper at intervals throughout the length thereof is a series of saddles 15 in which are formed bearings for the intermediate portions of the shafts M. As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the saddles rest in recesses 16 in the longitudinal side plates of the lower hopper section to which they are secured by bolts ll, and as shown inFig. 4, the shaft journals include straps 18 which pass over the tops of the shafts and are secured by bolts 79 to the saddles. The shafts M intermediate the journals are of square section adapting them for the reception of crusher roll elements 8! which carry projecting teeth 82. At one end of the hopper, the shafts 14 project beyond the journal plates 15 for reception respectively of a pair of ratchet levers 83 and 84, each of said levers comprising axially spaced elements between which are mounted upon the said shafts ratchet wheels 85 and 86. Each of the levers 33 and 8 5 also carries between the arms thereof a pivoted pawl 87 which engages the associated ratchet wheels whereby rotation of the levers by means hereinafter described results in rotation of the shafts I l. Also as illustrated, the levers 83 and M are connected at their upper ends by a link rod 88 whereby oscillation of one of said levers results in a corresponding oscillation of the other, and the pawls and ratchets are such in the present instance that oscillation of the levers results in alternate and successive rotations of the shafts and of the crusher rolls in opposite directions, said rolls turning in directions in which the upper parts thereof move inwardly towards the center of the hopper. In the present instance, the lever 83 is of bell crank type, and one arm thereof is connected through a rod 9! with the rod 92 of a piston operating in a cylinder 93, means being provided for admitting fluid to said cylinder to reciprocate the piston therein. It will be noted that removal of the bolts connecting the journal plates 13 to the end plates of the upper hopper section permits separation of the latter section from the lower section as previously described, leaving the crusher rolls journaled in the lower hopper section.

One of the upper plates at each end of the upper hopper section is provided with an opening for observation purposes, said opening normally being closed by a plate 94 which is slidably supported in guides 95 secured to the said plates and which may be elevated in said guides to uncover the opening; a corresponding opening being provided in one of the plates of the side wall I6 of the hopper. The inclined side wall 2| of the hopper is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 4, with a manhole 96 formed in one of the side plates, said manhole normally being closed by means of a hinged cover 9'! which may be opened to give access to the interior of the hopper. Suitable means 98 is provided for securing the door 9'! in the closed position and for effectively sealing the joint at the edges of said door.

As previously set forth, the hopper described above is adapted to be mounted directly below the ash pit of a furnace, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, and the lower longitudinal discharge opening of the hopper communicates directly with a sluiceway I 3 coextensive with the longitudinal dimension of the hopper. In the present instance, the said sluice l3 communicates intermediate its ends with a transversely extending discharge sluice lfll this latter sluice being at a level below the bottom of the sluiceway [3. The sluiceway Nil terminates in the present instance at one side of the hopper, and at the opposite side a gate valve 502 is provided, see Fig. 2, which may be elevated or lowered through the medium of a screw and hand wheel Hit. This valve when closed effectively seals the sluiceway WI, the construction being such that under these conditions air or gas is prevented from passing through the hop,- per to the sluice and also acts as an auxiliary to the sliding gates under the hopper. As previously described, means is also provided in the gates 56 and 57 for sealing the bottom of the hopper itself. Means may be provided in the form of a nozzle at the opposite ends of the sluiceway I3 for flushing this sluiceway for discharging ashes deposited therein into the transverse sluice Ill 8, the terminal end of this sluice also may be provided with suitable flushing nozzles whereby the ashes are carried through said sluice to a remote point of discharge.

In practice, ashes discharged from the stoker l into the furnace ash pit are normally supported by the crusher rolls 4, these rolls being periodically operated to crush the ashes and simultane ously discharge them into the underlying hopper. In the latter, the ash is either supported by the crusher rolls 8! or is prevented from passing to the sluice by closing the gates 56 .and 5'5. Periodically, the ashes may be discharged from the hopper to the sluice It by opening the gates and actuating the crusher rolls Bl, the supplemental crushing operation insuring a reduction of the clinkers and heavy ash particles to a condition of sub-division rendering them readily dischargeable from the sluice It to the sluice H3! in which they are removed as previously described to a remote point of discharge. This ability to crush the ash is especially useful where the stoker design is such that the ash is not crushed before entering the ash hopper, and is also useful where it is desired to pump the ash and water from the sump.

The crusher rolls 4 and 8! may be operated either individually or simultaneously, and in Fig. 1, I have illustrated means providing for either mode of operation. As therein illustrated, I have provided a main control valve I I2 which controls passage of actuating fluid from a main I IE to the cylinders H and 83 and also the exhaust of said fluid from said cylinders through a discharge pipe HG. Valves H5 in the supply pipes of the cylinders 93 and H6 in the supply pipes of the cylinder I I provide for jointly or individually connecting the said cylinders with the supply main I I3 and discharge pipe l M through the valve 4 l2. With the valves H5 and H6 open, the valve H2 may be manipulated to supply actuating fluid simultaneously to the cylinders H and 93, and means is provided comprising a system of levers H'l-l !8l I9 for obtaining an automatic reversal of the valve and of the movement of the pistons in the said cylinders. In the present instance, the lever ll9 is shown associated with a pair of stops l2! on the rod H] connecting the levers 8 and 9 with the piston operating in the cylinder II, these stops engaging the lever H9 as the piston approaches the opposite ends of its stroke to thereby shift the valve I I2 to a position admitting fluid to the opposite ends of the cylinders for a reversal of the direction of movement. The valve H2 may be similarly operatively connected with the piston operating in the cylinder 93 to effect a corresponding automatic action when that cylinder is used independently of the cylinder l I. Referring to Fig. 1, it is seen that a pair of stops l2l' are provided on rod 9| in operative relation with a bell crank lever H9. A link H3 connects lever H9 with a second bell crank lever 20!], the substantially horizontal arm of which being connected to the end of arm ll'l through a pin and slot connection. Crusher rolls 8! may therefore be operated independently of the rolls 4.

The system of ash disposal as described above is of particular importance in connection with stoker fed furnaces of the underfeed multiple retort type wherein the heavy clinker formation involves a necessity for thorough crushing in order to permit removal of the ash by hydraulic sluicing. The provision of the hopper underlying the normal furnace ash pit and intermediate the ash pit and the sluice together with the two sets of crushing devices provides a highly flexible and efiicient control of ash disposal.

Sluicing systems other than those described above may be utilized, and it will be understood that there may be considerable modification in the general structure of the hopper without departure from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a multiple retort underfeed stcker, an ash pit positioned to receive ashes discharged from said stoker, crusher elements in said ash pit, a hopper located below said ash pit and positioned to receive ashes discharged from said pit by actuation of said crushing means, supplemental crusher means operative in said hopper, a sluice located below said hopper and positioned to receive ashes discharged from the hopper by actuation of said supplemental crushing means, and means providing for individual or joint operation of said crushers.

2. In combination with a multiple retort underfeed stoker, an ash pit positioned to receive ashes discharged from said stoker, crusher elements in said ash pit, a hopper located below said ash pit and positioned to receive ashes discharged from said pit by actuation of said crushing means, supplemental crusher means operative in said hopper, a sluice located below said hopper and 10 positioned to receive ashes discharged from the hopper by actuation of said supplemental crushing means, independent fluid-actuated means for operating said crushers, and valve means controlling the flow of actuating fluid to both of said operating means and providing for individual or joint operation of said crushers.

3. In an ash disposal system for furnaces, the combination with an ash pit, of crusher and feeding rolls mounted in said pit and forming a support for the ashes deposited therein, a hopper arranged to receive the ashes discharged from said pit, means for actuating said rolls to crush and feed said ashes into said hopper, supplemental rolls in said hopper forming a support for the ashes fed thereto by said first mentioned rolls, said hopper having a discharge opening directly beneath said supplemental rolls, a sluice disposed beneath said opening for receiving the ashes discharged from said hopper, adjustable gates for varying the size of said discharge opening whereby the quantity of ash passing therethrough may be controlled, said gates when adjusted to fully closed position forming an effective seal for said hopper, and means for securing said gates in adjusted position.

JOSEPH S. BENNETT. 

